Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) plans to hold an even bigger gathering to show Malaysian solidarity for the much persecuted Rohingya minority ethnic group in Myanmar.

Its chairman Datuk Dr Yusri Mohamad said Yadim, as the organiser of the "Solidarity for Rohingya" gathering here Sunday, would hold it at a bigger venue and hoped more people would join irrespective of race or religion.

"The gathering today was open to all but was on short notice and the venue also could only accommodate a limited number of people," he told reporters after the gathering at Stadium Titiwangsa here yesterday.

The gathering was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Also present were PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, UMNO leaders and representatives of more than 100 NGOs, students councils as well students of religious schools.

In IPOH, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir urged all quarters to protest against the Myanmar government over its treatment of the Rohingya community.

He said the oppression on the community was not just a religious issue per se but a humanitarian one and must not be allowed to go on.

"We cannot remain silent and allow the atrocities, genocide against people in South East Asia when it fact it is so close by," he told reporters after after launching the "Green for Ipoh" programme at Kong Heng Square here, Sunday.

In KOTA KINABALU, Gerakan Akar Umbi UMNO Malaysia (Gaum) chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar in a statement said the solidarity gathering was not a demonstration as claimed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad because it had a valid permit and was held at an indoor stadium.

He said the gathering did not inconvenience anyone unlike the street demonstrations held by irresponsible parties. -- Bernama